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Formosa school promoting kindness with Buddy Bench

Derek Lester

Thursday, June 15, 2017
11:07:16 EDT AM

Ecole Immaculee-Conception in Formosa receives a Buddy Bench through the Get In Touch For Hutch Foundation on June 6. Enjoying the bench for the first sitting are student Keegan Fischer, Myrna Hutchison of the foundation, Walkerton Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Charlie Bagnato, Ontario Miss Midwest and Princess Pageant president Barb MacArthur and principal Christine Pfeffer. In front are students Jack Craig, Meggie Grubb, Ontario Miss Midwest queen Jordan Scholten, students Zeiven Oberle and Evalynn Seely.

The elementary school is the 21st school to receive a Buddy Bench through the Get In Touch For Hutch Foundation. The Buddy Bench Project was created to find a way to get youth talking.

On June 6 the entire student body assembled in the gym for a presentation to learn the significance of the bench and how it came to their school.

Every year the Ontario Miss Midwest queen chooses a charity to support, and current queen Jordan Scholten chose Get In Touch For Hutch.

The Buddy Bench Project is a joint financial effort between the school and foundation, however, the Formosa school received the bench through a donation from the Walkerton Knights of Columbus.

Each year the Walkerton Knights host a charity bingo night for the pageant to raise funds for the chosen charity. This year those funds bought the Buddy Bench, and the Walkerton Knights wanted it to be donated to a local school. It was decided to approach the Formosa school to participate--and they accepted immediately.

Starting off the presentation of the bench, Myrna Hutchison, who created the Get In Touch For Hutch Foundation after her son Steven took his life in 2013, used a great analogy relating the purpose of the Buddy Bench to popular animated movie Inside Out.

She told students that they are never alone because there is always someone who cares that will listen to what they have to say, such as parents, teachers, coaches and Wes For Youth Online.

“We want you to know that it’s ok not to have a perfect day every day,” Hutchison said. “Someone will always be there to talk to.”

Scholten also spoke during the Powerpoint presentation, and she said the purpose of the bench is to foster kindness, friendship and empathy.

“Our hope is that there will always be fun things happening around the Buddy Bench,” Scholten added.

Although the bench was in the gym for the presentation, it will be moved outside in a visible, accessible spot in the school’s outdoor learning space.

Scholten suggested when winter comes to gather a number of friends and build a bunch of snowmen around the bench.

Hutchison closed the presentation stating she was honoured to present the bench to the Formosa students.

“It’s here to remind you to always be kind and caring,” Hutchison said. “I do encourage you all to get involved.”

She also left the students with one more piece of advice about friendship in general.

“In order to have a friend, you must first be one,” she said. “It’s not really that hard to make a difference.”

After the presentation, principal Christine Pfeffer thanked all those involved who helped bring the bench to Formosa, and specifically said to Hutchison, “Your impact will be felt.”

In an interview with The Post, Pfeffer said she is thankful to be part of the Buddy Bench Project, and to carry on the memory of Hutchison’s son.

“It makes me very proud to know that we have people to reach out to, and that we can carry on the legacy of this young man,” she said.

Get In Touch For Hutch Foundation is based in Arthur, Ont. Hutchison said they adopted the idea of the Buddy Bench in November 2015 after a foundation member saw a CTV News clip online telling the story of how an 8-year-old boy from Aurora, Ont. started a Buddy Bench program at his school.

Of the 21 benches distributed through the foundation, 20 are at elementary schools and only one is at a high school.

Scholten has raised funds during her time as Ontario Miss Midwest queen that has helped contribute to the donation of three benches to schools in Mount Forest, Owen Sound and now Formosa.

Further details about how to participate in the Buddy Bench Project, or general information about the foundation, can be found online at getintouchforhutch.com.

A portion of the foundation’s mission statement reads, “we look forward to a time when conversations relating to mental health are no longer held in silence but rather a part of our regular, everyday conversations.”

Other resources youths have 24 hours a day if needing someone to talk to include Walkerton-based Wes For Youth Online at wesforyouthonline.ca and Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.